MAKE sure your Christmas is the real deal.
That's the appeal from Trading Standards officers who have urged shoppers to ensure they do not fall victim to buying cut-price fake goods as presents for their friends and loved ones.
The appeal follows the seizure of a haul of fake designer scarves, jewellery and clothing from market stalls and carboot sales across Grimsby, which are believed to have a street value of many thousands of pounds.
Community protection manager Neil Clark said the best way to avoid buying fake goods – which are often poor quality and may not have been subject to the usual health and safety checks – was to buy from outlets in the Real Deal scheme.
He said the goods had been seized during inspections of premises, markets and carboot sales who had signed up to the scheme – but that shoppers could now buy at all of the outlets with confidence.
They include:
Cleethorpes Street Market.
Grimsby Top Town Market.
Grimsby Farmers' Market.
Grimsby Christmas Market.
Oaklands car boot sale.
Spud's carboot sale, near Morrisons.
Mr Clark said: "Buying fake goods is a false economy – you will have to buy the same thing three or four times because the quality is so poor. There is also evidence that counterfeit sales support the black economy, organised crime and other criminality."
Councillor Dave Bolton, the portfolio holder for community safety and neighbourhoods, added: "Counterfeiting hits our economy in four ways. There are the tax issues, it takes trade from legitimate manufacturers and retailers and rips off customers.
"There are lots of legitimate retailers in North East Lincolnshire and we would encourage shoppers to use them."
See them, shop them:
If you believe you have spotted counterfeit goods for sale, text FAKES, followed by your message, to 82055. You can also call 08454 040506.
